Rodneys Bladder Stone

[first_time_piggie_mum]

I went to see the vet today that operated on Rodney, just so I could get some closure on what actually happened last week during his bladder stone Op.

Basically, the op went really well with no problems and the vet said all of his other vital organs looked well and healthy. The problem was that shortly after he started to come round from the anaesthetic, he started bleeding and it was quite a significant amount for such a small body. He bled for a while, then it stopped and all looked like it was going to be ok.

However, the bleeding started again and the vet thinks this was ultimately why he died :0 He believes a capillary may have been damaged during the surgery, and if he had been a dog or a bigger animal then he could have put him back into surgery to see if there was something he could have done. That wasnt possible with Rodney.

I now know that - he wasnt in pain, he wasnt alone, and that they did everything possible to keep him comfortable while he passed away.

Do I feel better after seeing him?....a teeny bit as I know that I made the right decision to go through with the operation. The stone itself (which I brought home) is very rough and lumpy and would have been like sandpaper against the walls of his poor little bladder I'm very angry that it was this small little hard ball that killed my baby, and other than that he was perfectly healthy pow-pow

I will forever regret, that I didnt insist on them doing an x-ray in May when I took him in for a check because of his wheeking when toileting, and that I accepted their diagnosis of a UTI. He may still be here today.

Sorry for babbling on, I just wanted to share this with you and say that since he died I have been on here everyday getting my "piggie fix" with all your lovely stories and photographs. Its been a source of "therapy" for me in some ways, but nothing will replace my little guy :0

 

[flintstones]

I know just how you feel - but remember you did all you could all we can do is what the experts advise.

It is quite normal to treat for a UTI first, cost effective and it is common. Then X-ray. I don't think anyone was at fault.

I'm very sad you lost your gorgeous boy. x

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUG!

It is always difficult when an operation goes wrong and you are left with feelings of guilt and what ifs.

I was in a similar position last year when my Fflur didn't wake up from her ovarian cyst operation - the cysts were much bigger than expected and once removed, the body mass laft was not enough to bring her round. Like you, I now know even better that the operation was absolutely necessary considering the size and growth rate of her cysts. Like you, I am still sorry that her problem wasn't discovered earlier.

 

[Carolinemm]

This is so sad, you must be heart broken but just wanted to say thank you for this post. I can imagine an xray seems over the top at the time, especially if they get better after treatment. I have just had the squeaking when peeing and only because of an episode of bloat that followed I had an xray aswell, but in the future I wouldnt wait, not after your post. I'm so sorry xx

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Thank you guys x

Yeah heartbroken I am although that doesnt seem like a strong enough word to express how I feel right now. These little guys come into your life, and make it richer. When they leave, its devastating.

When I took him back in July after he started wheeking again, they were just going to give him another course of AB's, but I refused and insisted they x-ray him as I was convinced it was something more serious......unfortunately my gut feeling was right.

So, I know you all love and do the best for your piggies but the experts arent always right! If you think there is something wrong, then insist on other courses of action. You know your piggies better than anyone x

 

[Wiebke]

All we can do is learn and do it better the next time round. You may not be able to save all your piggies at all times - you can only try, and try not to beat yourself up too much about it when it doesn't work out. As long as you act to the best of your knowledge and intent, then you have not failed Rodney.

You have given Rodney a happy life filled with love and care. That is the main thing. Treasure the time you have with your piggies, but don't expect from yourself to be perfect and to make the right decision at all times. That is just not possible and unfair on yourself.

 

[gogoguineas]

BIG HUGS! I'm so sorry for your loss, i lost one of my fellas to a bladder stone once 8...

Just remember you did the right by having him treated as opposed to leaving it.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Sooo very sad and really can relate to your anger with these horrible stones.
I remember your post as my boar had his op on the Tuesday that same week and we were totally gobsmacked to see how awful these stones are.
Harley too was treated for a UTI then cystitis - the vet palpated his abdomen and said she could not feel a stone but an x-ray would be the next step.
We prayed he would be ok on antibiotics but unfortunately, we had to go back for x-rays. I hated the thought of him being knocked out and not coming around from the anaesthetic let alone going through surgery :0 To voluntarily put him in that situation was awful but for his sake, knew we had to do it for him to hopefully get better.
Luckily, Harley allowed them to x-ray him without a GA so that was a huge relief but he had a huge stone, as you say, all rough and this damn thing had caused him all this pain for months - I wish we had opted for x-rays earlier but the vet needed to eliminate other possibilities first.
He is now fully recovered thank heavens and has his quality of life back but the guilt I feel is terrible but you cannot really overule the vets decision but in future, like yourself, will opt for x-rays if there were any signs in any of our piggies as I could not place any one of them in this situation again.
I am so very sorry about Rodney and hope you can one day understand you did what you thought was best for him.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

aww so sad, but everyone one of us that have had a piggy with a bladder stone know exactly where you are coming from.

You did all you could following seeking advice from a vet, that is all anyone or any piggy can ask for.

Take care xx

 

[CandyFloss]

So sorry :0

You did the best you could for him based on the information you had - it sounds to me like he did need the operation and I would've done the same thing.

We can only ever do our best for them - sometimes thats not enough

Big hugs

xx